V. I. Lenin

The Tasks Of The Public Library
      In Petrograd

Written:x November, 1917First Published:1933 inLenin
      Miscellany XII.Published according to the
      manuscript. Published according to the manuscript.Source:Lenin'sCollected
      Works, Progress Publishers, Moscow, Volume 28, 1972,
      pp. 351Translated:Yuri Sdobnikov and George
      Hanna, Edited by George HannaTranscription & HTML Markup:Charles
      Farrell and David WaltersOnline Version:Lenin Internet ArchiveNovember,
      2000

It takes knowledge to participate in the revolution with
      intelligence, purpose and success.

Because tsarism had played havoc with public education over a
      period of many years, the library service in Petrograd is in a
      very bad state.

The following changes, based on principles long practised in the
      free countries of the West, especially Switzerland and the
      United States, must be made immediately and unconditionally:

(1) The public library (the former Imperial Library) must
      immediately start an exchange of books with all public and state
      libraries in Petrograd and the provinces and with foreign
      libraries (in Finland, Sweden, etc.).

(2) The forwarding of booksfrom one library to
      anothermust be made post-free by law.

(3) The library’s reading-room must be open, as is
      the practice with private libraries and reading-rooms for therichin civilised countries,

from 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. daily, not excluding Sundays and holidays.

(4) The required personnel must be immediately transferred to
      the Public Library from the various offices of the Ministry of
      Education (with more women, in view of the military demand for
      men), where nine-tenths of the staff are engaged not merely in
      useless, but in downright harmful work.